The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) has posed questions to António Leitão Amaro, the Minister of the Presidency responsible for media oversight, regarding an ongoing “profound restructuring” at RTP. The party highlights that this process involves a significant number of employee departures, major organizational changes, substantial modifications in the hierarchical structure of various services, and the unexpected resignation of the director of information and their deputies.
The information surrounding the company’s project, the underlying criteria of the process, the impact of employee departures on the ability to provide public radio and television services, and the legal basis and procedures followed for the dismissal and replacement of RTP’s information direction remain unclear, as noted by the PCP.
The PCP further expressed concerns over intentions to deepen “multiplatform synergies,” fearing plans to merge services, editorial teams, and even hierarchical structures.
Despite not questioning the capability and autonomy of RTP’s Board of Directors, the PCP insists that RTP must ensure the strict observance of applicable legislation and adopt transparent practices through scrutiny of its activities and management.
The party inquired about the specifics of the ongoing restructuring project and whether its objectives align with fulfilling public radio and television service obligations.
The PCP also asked about the extent of workforce reduction planned by the company and what role and contributions representative worker structures have had in the restructuring process.
Requests for details regarding the rationale behind the replacement of RTP’s director of information and respective deputy directors, or sub-directors, were made, along with questioning why RTP’s Editorial Council was not consulted prior to the information direction’s dismissal, as legally mandated.
The Union of Journalists (SJ) and the Union of Telecommunications and Audiovisual Communication Workers (STT) have accused RTP’s management of legal violations by replacing the director of information without consulting the Editorial Council.
This matter concerns the departure of António José Teixeira from the position of director of information at the public broadcaster and the appointment of Vítor Gonçalves to the role without seeking input from the Editorial Council, as required by the Journalist Statute (Article 13) and the Television Law (Article 35).
RTP maintains that no illegality occurred, referring to the law after the public television’s Editorial Council criticized not being consulted about the dismissal of the information direction (DI).
Vítor Gonçalves, aged 56, is named the new director of information at RTP, succeeding António José Teixeira.
As a journalist at RTP for 33 years, Gonçalves has served as deputy director and was the public broadcaster’s correspondent in Washington. He currently hosts the program “Grande Entrevista” on RTP3, airing Wednesdays.
